The death toll in yesterday’s Mathura in Uttar Pradesh, clash has risen to 24. Those killed include Mathur’s SP (City) Mukul Dwivedi, SHO Farah Police Station Santosh Yadav and 20 protesters.
More than 40 people have been injured in the incident. The clashes between police and protesters broke out when police launched a drive to clear encroachment in Jawahar Bagh area of the city. Chief minister Akhilesh Yadav has ordered an inquiry into the incident. He has also announced an ex-gratia of 20 lakh rupees to the family of diseased policemen.
Police has arrested 130 mobsters who ran berserk when the police tried to evacuate Jawahar Bagh of Mathura yesterday. Uttar Pradesh DGP Javed Ahmad said at a press conference in Mathura that in the fateful incident twenty four persons including two policemen and 22 rioters were killed, who had hidden a huge cachet of arms in the huts. Eleven of the rioter perished in the fire they themselves had caused.
DGP Javeed Ahmad and principal secretary home Mr Panda both paid tribute to the martyred SP City Mukul Dwivedi and SHO Santosh Yadav who laid their life to implement the rule of law.
As of now, the whole of Jawahar Bagh is in control of administration where police is carrying out massive searchwith dog squad. Police has recovered some vehicles bearing Madhya Pradesh registration number from the clash site. Eyewitnesses said that the wrath of local people against encroachers was such that when they were retreating, they were severely beaten by the public.
Meanwhile, the authorities have cleared the area. A manhunt has been launched to nab the culprits.
Home Minister Rajnath Singh today spoke to Chief Minister of Uttar Pradesh Akhilesh Yadav and reviewed the situation in Mathura. Mr Singh has also assured him of all possible help from the Centre. The Home Minister expressed anguish over the loss of lives in the incidents of violence in Mathura.
Earlier report-–IG (Law and Order) H R Sharma told media that around 3000 encroachers pelted stones and later opened fire at the police team as they reached the spot.
In protection, the police had to fire after using batons and tear gas at them, he said. Chief Medical Officer of the district Vivek Mishra said five protesters and two policemen were killed in the clashes.
SP (City) Mukul Dwivedi and SHO, Farah police station, Santosh Kumar were killed in firing by the encroaches, police said.
Mishra said at least four dozen people, including, two dozen police personnel, were injured.
Search operations were on in Jawahar Bagh though activists of Azad Bharat Vidhik Vaicharik Kranti Satyagrahi were evicted by the joint operation of police, PAC and RAF.
Chief Minister Akhilesh Yadav expressed grief over the incident and announced an ex-gratia of Rs 20 lakh to the family of the deceased policemen.
He directed the Additional Director General of Police (Law and Order) to rush to the spot and bring the situation under control.
He also directed that additional police reinforcement be rushed to the area and the guilty be arrested.
The activists used not only hand grenades but also opened fire from automatic weapons after taking position at tree tops, he said.
The area was filled with smoke due to blast of hand grenades and LPG cylinders following which several huts caught fire, the DM said.
Two years ago, the activists of splinter group of Baba Jai Gurudeo, claiming themselves to be member of ‘Azad Bharat Vidhik Vaicharik Kranti Satyagrahi’, had occupied hundreds of acres of land of Jawahar Bagh on the pretext of ‘Dharna’.
Their demands included like cancellation of election of President and Prime Minister of India, replacement of existing currency with ‘Azad Hind Fauj’ currency, sale of diesel at the rate of 60 litres for one Rupee and petrol at the rate of 40 litres for one Rupee. The Allahabad High Court, acting on a PIL, had recently ordered the authorities to get the land vacated.
Updated at 14:55